Trends of Dispensed Opioids Prescribed by Australian Dentists: 2013-2022.

IF 2.1 3区医学 Q2 DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE

Community dentistry and oral epidemiology Pub Date : 2025-10-07 DOI:10.1111/cdoe.70022

Leanne Teoh, Marietta Taylor, Erin Kelty, Frank M Sanfilippo, Mathew Lim, Michael McCullough, Christopher Etherton-Beer, Alex Park, David Preen, Amy Page

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: In Australia, the prescribing of opioid medicines by dentists has increased in recent years, despite opioids not being first-line treatment for dental pain. The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the dispensing of opioids prescribed by dentists in Australia during 2013-2022.

Method: A nationally representative 10% sample of patients identified from the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme dispensing data from 2013 to 2022 was used. Three outcomes were assessed: (1) incidence of dispensing of all dental prescriptions; (2) incidence of dispensing of opioids prescribed by dentists; (3) average number of tablets/capsules of dental opioid supply. Outcomes pertaining to opioid use were examined overall, and by year, age and sex.

Results: From 2013 to 2022, 998 774 dental prescriptions (of any kind) were dispensed to 470 118 patients. The mean annual incidence rate for dispensing any dental medication was 48.4 (95% CI: 48.3-48.5)/1000 person-years. Opioids accounted for 183 303 prescriptions (18.4%), with a mean annual incidence rate of 11.0 (95% CI: 11.0-11.1)/1000 person-years. The majority of patients (99.1%) were dispensed ≤ 4 opioid prescriptions across the 10-year period, with 0.9% of patients (n = 1312) receiving between 5 and 149 dispensed opioids. Over the study period, the average annual incidence of dispensed dental opioids increased by 4.4% (95% CI: 1.0-8.2). A reduction in the mean quantity of opioid pills dispensed was observed over time. Dental opioids were dispensed to 2727 children and adolescents.

Conclusion: The incidence of dispensing of dental opioids in Australia increased by an average of 4.4% per year over a decade. While there was a reduction in opioid quantities dispensed, dispensing of opioids for children occurred, and a small number of patients were dispensed excessive quantities of dental opioids. Evidence-based tailored opioid stewardship interventions need to include dentists, and dentists should be provided access to drug monitoring programmes to enable more informed prescribing decisions.

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澳大利亚牙医处方阿片类药物的趋势：2013-2022。

背景：在澳大利亚，尽管阿片类药物不是治疗牙痛的一线药物，但近年来牙医开具的阿片类药物处方有所增加。这项纵向研究的目的是检查2013-2022年澳大利亚牙医处方的阿片类药物的分配情况。方法：采用从2013年至2022年澳大利亚药品福利计划调剂数据中确定的具有全国代表性的10%患者样本。评估了三个结果：(1)所有牙科处方的配药率；(2)按牙医处方配发阿片类药物的发生率；(3)牙科阿片类药物平均供应片剂/胶囊数量。与阿片类药物使用有关的结果进行了总体检查，并按年份、年龄和性别进行了检查。结果：2013 - 2022年，共发放各类牙科处方998 774张，惠及470118例患者。配发任何牙科药物的平均年发病率为48.4 (95% CI: 48.3-48.5)/1000人年。阿片类药物占处方183 303张（18.4%），平均年发病率为11.0 (95% CI: 11.0-11.1)/1000人年。大多数患者（99.1%）在10年期间获得了≤4张阿片类药物处方，0.9%的患者（n = 1312）获得了5至149张阿片类药物处方。在研究期间，牙科阿片类药物的平均年发病率增加了4.4% （95% CI: 1.0-8.2）。随着时间的推移，观察到阿片类药物的平均配药量减少。为2727名儿童和青少年配发了牙科阿片类药物。结论：十年来，澳大利亚牙科阿片类药物配药的发生率平均每年增加4.4%。虽然发放的阿片类药物数量有所减少，但仍发生了为儿童发放阿片类药物的情况，少数患者被发放了过量的牙科阿片类药物。基于证据的量身定制的阿片类药物管理干预措施需要包括牙医，并应向牙医提供药物监测规划，以使他们能够做出更明智的处方决策。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

8.70%

发文量

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： The aim of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology is to serve as a forum for scientifically based information in community dentistry, with the intention of continually expanding the knowledge base in the field. The scope is therefore broad, ranging from original studies in epidemiology, behavioral sciences related to dentistry, and health services research through to methodological reports in program planning, implementation and evaluation. Reports dealing with people of all age groups are welcome. The journal encourages manuscripts which present methodologically detailed scientific research findings from original data collection or analysis of existing databases. Preference is given to new findings. Confirmations of previous findings can be of value, but the journal seeks to avoid needless repetition. It also encourages thoughtful, provocative commentaries on subjects ranging from research methods to public policies. Purely descriptive reports are not encouraged, nor are behavioral science reports with only marginal application to dentistry. The journal is published bimonthly.